Temperature regulator for internal combustion engines



Nov. 15, 1938. J. V. GIESLER 37 TEMPERATURE REGULATOR FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed March 9, 1936 Patented Nov. 1-5 1938 UNITED-STATES v TEMPERATURE REGULATOR FOR e COMBUSTION ENGINES I Jean V. Giesler, Knoxville, Tenn, assignor to The Fulton Sylphon Company, Knoxville, Team, a corporation of Delaware Application March 9,

13 Claims.

This invention relates to temperature regulators for internal combustion engines, and more particularly to a temperature regulator for controlling the circulation of. cooling medium through the cooling system of such an engine. Where heaters for the interiors of automobiles are supplied with their heating medium from the medium circulating through the cooling system of the engine, the efiectiveness of the temperature regulator 'associated with the cooling system for quickly bringing the cooling medium to a temperature which is suitable i'or the emcient operation of the engine and thereafter proportioning the circulation of cooling medium through the radiator to maintain the temperature of the oooling'medium withina narrow range, in narrowly and accurately controllingthe flow of cooling medium becomes of increasing importance. may be, filled and drained, it is customary to provide the valve member of the temperature regulator with an aperture, ordinarily on the order of diameter, so that the "medium as well as air may pass readily from one side of said valve member to the other. Experience has demonstrated that with such a constantly open aperture, the amount of circulation through thecooling system under the pressure of the circulating pump is such that, in very coldweather, it is diflicult if not impossible to .bring the cooling medium up to the designed temperature if the valve member fails to seat tightlyor if a bit of great or dirt prevents the valve member from completely closing the port. For example, it has been found that with a main valve of 1 diameter and a leakage opening therein of 5 diameter, less than 54 lift of. the main valve will prevent the temperature of the cooling medium,

on a cold day, from being raised above 110' F and not only is this temperature too lowforthe eflicient operation of the engine but it is alsovan unsatisfactory temperature for use in a heater for the interior of the automobile. Yet a lift of 34 can easily be caused by grit or dirt preventing a proper seating of themain valve member; 0n the other hand, it is not satisfactory, to materially reduce-the diameter of theleakage open ing, because that much of a passage is required for satisfactorily filllngand emptying the cooling system. i

It is an object of this invention to provide a temperature regulator for the cooling system of an internal combustion engine that obviates the foregoing diiliculties and which while retaining an adequate leakage opening in the valve. mem- In order that the cooling system 1936, Serial No. class (cl. ass-e 4) ber includes means whereby the temperature ofv the cooling medium may be quickly brought to the desired temperature suitable both for the eillcient operation of the engine and the desired operation of the heater for the interior of the automobile before such circulation through the system is permitted by the regulator as will prevent the attainment of the desired temperature. Another object of this invention is to provide a device of the type characterized which includes separately operated valve members, one of relatlvely small diameter, and which may have a 1 relativelyhlgh lift. so that leakage thereby will not materially interfere with prompt attainmentand thereafter maintenance of substantially the desired operating temperature. while the other of said valve members provides for an adequate circulation of cooling medium through the cooling system' when the desired operating temperature has been exceeded. 5

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of the type last characterized which employs separate compactly arranged thermostats for operating the two valves at different operating temperatures.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of the type characterized which is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture and install, and efficient in operation.

Other objects will appear as the description of the invention proceeds.

Theinvention is capable of receiving a variety of mechanical expressions, one of which is shown on the accompanying drawing but it is to be expressly understood that the drawing is for purposes of illustration only, and is not to be construed as a definition of the limits of the inventlon, reference being had to the appended claims for that purpose.

Referring in detail to the drawing, wherein the same reference characters are employed to designate corresponding parts in the diflerent figlll'fl Fig.1 is an axial section of an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an end view direction of the arrows 2-2 in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-8 of Fig. 1. -In the form shown, the temperature regulator includes a housing ll of any suitable size, construction and material and here illustrated as composedof a generally cup-shaped wall which may be conveniently drawn from sheet metal and which is provided at its open end with an outwardly directed peripheral flange ll so that thereof looking in the forming a part of the cooling system. The opposite end of said housing II is apertured at l2 to provide a valve port, and as here shown the wall around the said port is flanged axially outward so as to provide a valve seat It Suitably attached to the end wall of the housing ill is a strap H, to the intermediate portion of which is secured, in any suitable way, the fixed end wall it of an expansible and collapsible thermostatic element, here shown as provided'with a deeply corrugated expansible and collapsible tubular wall i 6 to which said stationary end wall I5 is secured in any suitable way. Attached to the opposite end of said tubular corrugated wall It in any suitable way is a cup-shaped movable end wall il which constitutes both theinner tubular wall of the chamber of thermostat l8 and the outer peripheral wall of the chamber of an inner thermostat is, the former chamber having its outer wall formed by said corrugated wall is and the latter chamber having its inner wall formed by a'second deeply corrugated expansible and collapsible tubular wall 20 secured at one end to a flange 22 attached in. anysuitable way, as by solder, to the tubular wall l1 and secured at its opposite end in any suitable way to a mov-' able wall 2|. Thereby the thermostat I! constitutes a thermostat of the cup type which is concentrically arranged with respect to thermostat l8 and housed within the movable end wall thereof.

Attached to the radially flanged portion 22 of. the movableend wall ll of the outer thermostat i8, as by a plurality of posts 23, is a valve member 24 of any suitable size, construction and material, and here shown as having a flared periphery adapted to make line contact with the valve seat It. Attachedto the movable end wall 2! of the inner thermostat I! is a valve stem 25,

- which may be guided and limited as to its movement in any suitable way as by the combinedguide and 'stop diagrammatically indicated at 25' if desired, to the outer end of which is attached in any suitable way a second valve member 26 also shown as flared outwardly at its periphery any suitable size, and if desired, said leakage even date herewith.

opening may be controlled by an automatically operated valve of any suitable character, such for example as disclosed and claimed in my application, Serial No. 67,550, entitledTemperature regulators for internal combustion engines, died of The thermostats l8 and I! are charged in any suitable way with suitable thermosensitive mediums, and in conformity with the present invention the charges are so selected that the thermostat i8 will expand and open its valve member 24 only after a higher predetermined temperature has been reached than is required to cause thermostat I! to expand and open. its valve member 26. For example, the inner thermostat it may be designed to open its valve member at a temperature of 150 F. and the outer thermostat is may be designed to open its valve member when. a temperature of 160 F. has been reached, but it is to be expressly understood, that any other suitable temperatures or difierence in'temperatures may be employed,

the charges for the respective thermostats being suitably selected to effect the operation of the regulator at the proper temperature to eflect the operation herein disclosed.

In operation the cooling system may be normally filled or drained in the usual way, the filling opening 29 permitting an adequate flow of the cooling medium therethrough. When the engine is in operation, circulation through the system is prevented by the regulator, except for such circulation as is permitted by the leakage .opening 29, and as hereinbefore explained this flow may also be prevented. The valve members are preferably designed to closely fit their seats, particularly the outer and larger valve member 24, and thereby the temperature of the cooling medium may be promptly raised to its designed temperature. When the designed temperature of operation of the thermostat l9 has been reached, thermostat I9 will expand and open valve member 26 to permit a relatively small circulation through the system, as the valve port 28 is relatively small, while the lift of the valve member 26 may be relatively large so as to assure a' flow therethrough'that will keep the port clear of dirt. Even the presence of some dirt or lack the outer thermostat II, when the cooling medium rises above the designed temperature, will expand and open the larger valve member 24 to afford an adequate circulation of the cooling medium through the radiator.

The size of the movable end 7A. 2| and the size of the valve member 26 may be so related that a substantial balance is maintained between the two, and the inner valve mercber'is thereby not raised from its seat underthe action of the pump pressure.

While for purposes of compactness the two valves are preferably arranged concentrically as shown, it is to be expressly understood that this is not'essential within the broader aspects of the present invention, as the two halves with their thermostatic controls may be entirely sepante and control separate valve ports arranged in any suitable way in the same or difl'erent walls of the regulator.

While the embodiment of the invention illustrated on the drawing has been described with considerable particularity, it is to be expressly understood that the invention is not restricted thereto, as the same may take a variety of mechanical expressions, some of which will now readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art, while changes may be made in the details of construction, arrangement and proportion of parts, different forms and construction of thermostats, valve members and connecting means,

ber, said thermostat including a cup-shaped movable end wall, and said valve member being prom vided with avalve port, a second valve member be had to the claims hereto appended for a definition of said invention.

What is claimed is: I

1. In a temperature regulator for the cooling charged to open the same at a temperature below that at which the first named valve member is opened by said first named thermostat.

2. In a temperature regulator for the cooling system ofan internal combustion engine, the

' combination of means providing a'valve port, a

valve member cooperating therewith, a there mostat operatively connected to said valve memher, said valve member being provided with a" valve port, a second valve member cooperating with said last named port, and a second thermostat carried-by said first named thermostat. and operatively connected to said second named valve" member.

3. In a temperature regulator for the cooling system of an internal combustion engine, the combination of means providing a valve port, a valve member cooperating therewith, athermostatv operatively connected to said valve member,

said valve member being-provided with a valve port, a second valve member cooperating with said last named port, and a thermostat operatively connected to said second named valve member and charged to control circulation or the coolingmedium unless the temperature exceeds a prede- 1 termined maximum, said first named thermostat. being charged to open saidifirst named valve member when said temperature is reached.

4. In a temperature regulator for the cooling system of an internal combustion engine, the combination of means providing a valve port, a valve member cooperating therewith, a thermo stat operatively connected to said valve member.

said thermostat having a cup-shaped movable and wall, and said valve member being provided with a valveport, a second valve member cooperating.

with said last named port, and a second thermo stat disposed in the cavity of said end wall and operatively'connected tov said second named valve member.

5. In a temperature regulator for the cooling system of an internal combustion engine, the combinationvwith means providing a valve port,

a valve member cooperating therewith, a thermostat operatively connected to said valve memcooperating with said last named port, and a cuptype thermostat mounted in the cavity of said movable end wall and having its outer wall formed by said movable end wall of the first named thermostat, said second named thermostat being operatively connected to said second named valve member and charged to open at alower temperature than said first named thermostat.

6. In a temperature regulator for the cooling. system of an, internal combustion engine, the;- combination of means providing a valve port, an

valve member cooperating therewith, a thermostat operatively connected to said valve memvalve members and fin'sequence.

'11. Ina temperature regulator for the cooling with'said'last named port,'said second named valve port, a second'valve member cooperating valve member and port being of materially smaller size than said first named valve member and port, and a thermostat operatively connected to said second named valve member and charged to open said second named valve member at atemperature materially below-the temperature at which said first named valve member is opened by said first named thermostat.

-7. In atemperature regulator for the cooling system or an internal combustion engine, the

combination oi. means-providing a valve port, a

valve member. cooperating therewith, a thermostat operativeiy connected to said valve member,

said valve member being provided with a valve port, a second valve member cooperating with said last named port,.said second namedvalve mem-- her and port being of materially smaller than said first named valvemember and port. and concentrically arranged with respect thereto, and al-thermostat concentrically arranged with respect tosaid firstnamedthermostat and opera'tiv'elyi connectedfto';said, second named valve -meinber, said second ynamed thermostat being chargedto open said second named valve member at a temperature materially below that at which said first named thermostat opens said, ill-It named valve member.

8. In a temperature regulator for the cooling system of' an-internal combustion engine, the combinationof a conduit, means providing a valve port thereima valve member cooperating therewith. to control the flow of cooling medium through said conduit, asecond valve port and a seco'nd valve member cooperating with said second named valve port for controlling the fiow nected to said two valve members, respectively,

Y and adaptedto open said valve members at differenttemperatures to predetermine the volume of fiow through said conduit.

9 Ina temperature regulator for the cooling system oian internal combustion engine, the

comblnation'oi' a conduit,'means providing a valve of cooling medium through 'said' same conduit,

and two thermostatic means operatively con-- port therein, a valve member cooperating therewith. to control the fiow of cooling medium through said conduit, a second valve port and a second valve member cooperating with'said' second named valve port for controlling the fiow of named valve member when a predetermined minimum temperature has been reached and said first named thermostat being charged to open 1 said first named; valve member when a predeter- "mined maximum temperature has been reached.

10. In a temperature regulator for the cooling combination of means providing a valve port, a valve member cooperating therewith, a. valve port arranged centrally in said valvemember, a second valve member cooperating with said second named I system ofaninternal combustion engine, the

valve port, and a pair of concentrically arranged.

thermostats respectively'- connected to said two adapted to operate the same system of an'internal combustion engine, the combination of means providing a valve port, a valve'member cooperating therewith, a valve port her, said valve member'being provided with 'a in said valve member, a second valve member J5 cooperating with said second named valve port,

'a thermostat operatively connected to said first named valve member and provided with a cupshaped movable end wall, a cup-type thermostat having its outer rigidwall formed by said movable end wall of the first named thermostat, and operative connections between two said thermostats and said valve members, respectively.

12. In a temperatureregulator for the cooling system of an internal combustion engine, the

' combination of means providing a valve port, a

' valve member cooperating therewith, a second valve port, a second valve member cooperating.

with said second named valve port, and two thermostats respectively connected to said valve members and adapted to operate said valve members in sequence, the movable wall of one of said.

thermostats providing the relatively stationary wall of the other of said thermostats.

13. In a temperature regulator for the cooling system of arr internal combustion engine, the combination of means providing a valve port and .a valve member cooperating therewith for con- JEAN v. omsnma. 

